Gardaí are appealing to help reunite stolen dogs with their owners.

Gardaí have seized 10 dogs that are believed to be stolen following a search in Rathkeale, Limerick on Saturday (1 August). At 7pm on Saturday evening, members from a number of different Gardaí departments executed a search warrant at a property in the Rathkeale area. During the course of the search, Gardaí found a large number of dogs on the property. After checking the dogs, Gardaí found that the owners had no dog licenses or proper identification papers. 10 dogs, including huskies, English setters and Cavalier King Charles, were seized by Gardaí and are currently being cared for in a local shelter. Through initial enquiries, Gardaí have since reunited one of the dogs, a Cavalier King Charles, with its owner. The dog was stolen in the Dromcollogher area of Limerick on 9 June. Gardaí are now appealing to help reunite the other nine suspected stolen dogs with their owners. During the course of the search, Gardaí also seized a small quantity of suspected cannabis herb. No arrests have been made but Gardaí are following a definite line of enquiry and expect to progress the investigation in the near future.

Speaking on Wednesday, Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Ber Leetch said: "For your dog’s security, I would recommend they are microchipped so that they can be easily identified if found and returned to the owner.

"Remember if you have just purchased a dog to get the details on the chip updated to reflect your details. Also place contact details on their collar in the event that they escape. Ensure that your home and garden are secure to prevent theft and deter potential culprits.

"If you have a high value breed of animal you may wish to consider CCTV and other crime prevention measures. If you are buying a dog, or returning a dog to its suspected owners, make sure the person is bona fide."